Display-case for salesmen.



W. W. MOKNIGHT- DISPLAY 0152 FOR SALESMEN. APPLICATION FILED JAN,24,1911.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

WITNESSES INVENTOR wim /52 Fly WW W. W. MOKNIGHT- DISPLAY CASE FORSALESMBN. APPLICATION FILED JA1L24, 1911.

Patented Oct. 10,1911.

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DISPLAY-CASE FOR SALESMEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. to, 1911.

Application filed January 24, 1911. Serial No. 604,469.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLIAM VVAGLEY MoKMorrr, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at New Kensington, in the county ofVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Display Cases for Salesmen, of whichthe'following is a speci fication, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a display case for salesmen, and the primaryobject of the invention is to provide a display case that can beadvantageously used by grocer'ymen and merchants for displaying samplesof goods, whereby a buyer can readily order goods from the samples andwill not neglect to purchase goods that would be forgotten if thesamples were not displayed.

Another object of this invention is to furnish a display case with aprice list roll that can be easily unwound to display a list of goodsand the prices thereof, the list of goods including the samplesdisplayed by the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinged display casewit-h novel display trays that can be shifted to occupy a comparativelysmall space within the case, the case in its entirety being compact,easy to carry and presenting a neat appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a salesmansdisplay case that is simple in construction, durable, inexpensive tomanufacture, and highly etlicientfor the purposes for which it isintended.

These and such other objects as may here inafter appear are attained bythe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to bepresently described in detail.

and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the draw ings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display case in an openposition, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a transpar entplate adapted to form part of each tray, Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofa retaining strip adapted to form a part of each tray, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a portion of the molding for holding the glass traycover in place, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a tray,Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the case in an open position, Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view of the case in a closed position, and Fig. 8 isa similar view showing the case in an open position.

A case constructed in accordance with this invention comprises a bottomplate 1, side walls 2, a top wall 3 of less width than the side wallsthereof, and a rear wall 4:.

Hinged or pivotally connected to the forward edge of the base plate 1,as at 5 is a front wall 6 and mounted upon said front wall is arectangular frame 7 having a plotrality of equally spaced longitudinalpartitions 8 and transverse partitions 9, said partitions providing aplurality of compartments 10 upon the front wall 1. The longitudinalpartitions S extend from one side of the frame 7 to the opposite sidethereof, and the partitions 9 are mounted between the partitions 8 andsaid frame, it being preferable to provide the longitudinal partitions 8with vertical grooves 11 to receive the ends of the partitions 9. Thecompartments 10 are adapted to contain various kinds of merchandisewhich is retained within said compartments by a transparent plate 12,retaining strips 13 and a molding 14. The transparent plate 12 can bemade of isinglass, celluloid or a vitreous material, the retainingstrips 13 of aluminum or light and durable metal and the molding 1 1 ofwood. It is preferable to arrange the retaining strips 13 upon the upperedges of the partitions 9 and secure said retaining strips in place byscrews 15 or other fastening means passing through openings 16 and 17provided therefor in the strips 13 and the plate 12. The molding 1 1 isarranged around the edges of the rectangular frame7 and is adapted tocover the ends of the strips 13 and the edges of the transparent plate12. This transparent plate can be made in sections whereby easy accesscan be had to one or more of the compartments without disturbing theother compartments.

The rectangular frame 7 is surrounded by a rectangular frame 18, and theouter rail of this frame protrudes beyond the side rails of the frame,as at 19 whereby the outer rail will cooperate with the top wall 3 informing the top of the sample case. The outer rail of the frame 18 isprovided with eyes or staples 19 adapted to receive hooks 2O pivotallymounted upon the top wall 3 of the case.

The plate 6 and the elements carried thereby constitute a lower tray andlid for the sample case.

Arranged longitudinally of the base plate 1 intermediate the front andrear edges thereof is a cleat 21, and hinged or pivotally connected tothe forward edge of the cleat 21, as at 22 is a plate 23 provided withframes 24: and 25, partitions 26 and a trans parent plate 27 the plate23 and the elements supported thereby constituting an inner tray similarin construction to the first mentioned tray but of a less size, wherebyit can be folded upwardly into the case.

Mounted upon the rear wall 4: is a rectangular frame 28 having the lowerrail 29 thereof provided with a plurality of openings 80 adapted tosupport in a vertical position a plurality of bottles, vials or otherreceptacles 31, and in these bottles various grades of vinegar, oil,molasses or other liquid merchandise can be displayed. In the upper partof the frame 28 there is arranged a longitudinal spring roller 32supporting an apron 83. The spring roller 32 is constructed similar toan ordinary curtain shade roller, whereby the apron can be easilyunwound and wound upon the roller. The apron is adapted to contain alist of merchandise and the prices of such merchandise.

The top wall 3 of the case can be provided with a suitable pivotedhandle 34. whereby the case can be easily carried.

In the compartments of the pivoted trays various kinds of merchandisecan be displayed and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, andbesides quoting the prices upon the apron 33 of the merchandise carriedby the trays, other merchandise can be listed, whereby it is onlynecessary for a salesman to unwind or pull out the apron to display alist of all merchandise carried, together with the prices thereof,whereby there will be no doubt or misunderstanding as to the price ofgoods purchased.

My invention aims to facilitate the taking of orders from housewives bymen or boys especially employed for the purpose of calling at homes fororders, the contents of the case preventing any goods from beingoverlooked, particularly when memorandums are not made of the same. Inthis manner orders are obtained that might otherwise be overlooked andgoods purchased that otherwise would not have been bought.

The sample case can be made of light and durable metal or of wood andthe whole structure ornamented and finished to present aneat andattractive appearance. The walls thereof when made of metal can bepolished to serve functionally as mirrors or reflectors to reflect thecontents of the case when in an open position.

What I claim is z- 1. A. portable sample case comprising a receptaclehaving an open front and a portion of its top open, a cleat secured tothe upper face of the bottom of the receptacle inwardly of the frontedge thereof, a tray hinged to the upper outer corner of said cleat andcapable of being shifted within the receptacle and when so shiftedsupported by said cleat, a tray hinged to the outer edge of the bottomof the receptacle and of greater length than the other tray and capableof being shifted inwardly with in the receptacle and of such length andwidth that when shifted within the casing abutting against the forwardedges of the top and side walls of the receptacle thereby closing thefront and top of the receptacle, and means for securing the elongatedtray in closed position.

2. A portable sample case comprising a receptacle having a plurality ofhinged compartment trays capable of being shifted to open and closedposition and each adapted to contain a plurality of different articles,and a vertically-disposed winding apron arranged within the casingrearwardly of the trays and provided with conventional means to indicatethe cost of the articles within the compartments of the trays.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM WAGLEY MCKNIGHT.

Witnesses:

MAX H. SROLOVITZ, KARL H. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G.

